USC’s freshman class already has a signature moment on its résumé, and Lincoln Riley believes that matters as the Trojans head into the season’s most demanding stretch.
The No. 18 Trojans have leaned on young players all year, with wide receiver Trent Mosley, tight end Mark Bowman and edge rusher Luke Wafle helping swing the Halloween win over then-No.
2 Ohio State. That kind of stage, Riley said, is exactly the sort of experience that can pay off when November starts tightening the screws.
On Nov. 10, Riley said his freshmen have already been through enough big moments to be better prepared for what’s next, beginning with the Nov. 14 trip to No. 9 Indiana.
“Well, I think we’ve been in some pretty big moments, as it is. When you play at this school, when you play the schedule that we play, plus the big games we’ve had at home and the tough road venues we’ve been into, I think that helps you get ready [for November],” Riley said. “I think that’s one of the benefits of being a blue blood school.”
He also pointed to the reality of what comes with playing in the SEC and Big Ten, where the margins shrink and the pressure rises.
“But playing in the SEC and Big Ten is you get prepared for these games,” Riley said. “Whether if it’s big in-season games, playoff games and championship games, the more you’re in those scenarios and the more you’re used to being in that level of competition, where you’ve got to play really good and the other group is just as good, it just makes the games feel different.”
USC sits at 7-2 and remains in the hunt for the Big Ten Championship game and a spot in the 12-team College Football Playoff. Riley said the group has already absorbed the kind of strain that comes with high-end football.
“It’s a different type of feeling and different type of strain that it takes to win and excel in those games. The more you’re in it, the better. And we’re a pretty battle-tested group right now,” Riley said.
Indiana brings a different kind of challenge. Riley said the Hoosiers’ defensive front stands out for its depth, calling it one of the deepest units USC has faced in terms of how many players can make an impact.
“They’ll be one of the deepest fronts that we’ve played in terms of the number of guys who can contribute,” Riley said of Indiana’s defensive line.
That could put pressure on Wafle and the rest of USC’s young core, even though no true freshmen on the Trojan side will be lining up against that front. Bowman may see edge pressure at the line, and Indiana’s pass rush could force quarterback Jayden Maiava into quicker decisions that affect how often Bowman and Mosley get involved.
Riley also noted on the Nov. 9 edition of Trojans Live that USC could face two quarterbacks in Josh Hoover and Grant Wilson, with Wilson replacing Hoover in Minnesota’s 23-16 win over the Gophers.
A win over the ninth-ranked Hoosiers would give USC another top-10 victory in a row and could strengthen the Trojans’ case with the CFP committee. It would also give Riley’s team a chance to build the November run it wants, with the coach confident his top-ranked 2026 recruiting class is ready for the spotlight.
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Indiana Just Landed A Guard Hoosier Fans Will Want To Watch
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Branham also arrives with some historical context attached, since he is now the 10th-highest ranked recruit Indiana has landed in the 247Sports era. In the schools official release, coach Darian DeVries highlighted both Branhams ability and his character, which is usually the kind of combination a staff hopes will translate well once the real work begins and the recruiting buzz gives way to what he can actually do in Bloomington. [Read more 🡒]
Lincoln Riley Just Sent Indiana A Message Before Bloomington Showdown
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For Indiana, the compliments matter because they come with a reminder of what usually decides games at this level: which team can bring the same standard from one week to the next. Riley said consistency is the challenge, and that is exactly the sort of test the Hoosiers want in a high-profile home game, where a strong defensive identity and steady coaching should give them a chance to make USC earn everything. [Read more 🡒]
Tobi Osunsanmi May Decide Whether Indiana Can Survive USCs Attack
USC brings one of the Big Tens most dangerous passing attacks into this matchup, and Indianas best answer may come from the front line. The Trojans have leaned on quarterback Jayden Maiava to drive the offense, while the Hoosiers have built their defensive identity around getting pressure and disrupting timing before a play can fully develop.
Tobi Osunsanmi is at the center of that challenge. Indiana has to find a way to make USC uncomfortable early and often, because if Maiava settles in, the Trojans can turn a game fast through the air. The Hoosiers have shown they can defend at a high level, but this one may hinge on whether Osunsanmi and the pass rush can force USC out of rhythm before the secondary has to hold up for long stretches. [Read more 🡒]